Self Image

Food insecurity can hinder an individual’s physical growth and development, but it can also damage their psyche. When a person is living with food insecurity, they often feel vulnerable; defining themselves as different from the rest of society. A person’s self-image can be marred if they recognize a change in body image due to malnutrition or poor diet caused by lack of healthy food options. There are stigmas and stereotypes that exist regarding individuals who experience food insecurity, which has a tendency to make those suffering feel alienated. Identifying that they are viewed differently from others simply because they lack the ability to feed themselves and their family creates a negative self-perception which can affect many other aspects of their life and deter food insecure individuals from seeking the support they need.

Living with food insecurity not only takes a toll on a nutrition and development, it also takes a toll on a persons mental well-being. Often living with food insecurity takes an emotional toll on individuals.